There are eight different moon phases in each Lunar Cycle. The Lunar Phase Cycle (From a new moon to a new moon) consists of 29.5 days. The Lunar Cycle refers to the moon’s continuous orbit around the Earth. Exactly one half of the Moon is always illuminated from the Sun. From Earth it is seen at different angles as it rotates around the Earth. The Lunar Phases are given different names according to how it is seen from Earth. In order of how they appear:
1. New Moon – When the moon is new, its lighted half is facing entirely away from Earth, and its dark half is facing us.
2. Waxing Crescent - After the new moon, the lit side of the moon is increasing, but is less than half, so it is the waxing crescent moon phase.
3. First Quarter – The first quarter is when half of the Moon is illuminated.
4. Waxing Gibbous - After the first quarter moon phase, the lit side of the moon is still increasing, but it is more than half, so it is the waxing gibbous moon phase.
5. Full Moon – The Moon is completely illuminated.
6. Waning Gibbous - After the full moon, the lit moon continually decreases, so it is the waning gibbous phase.
7. Third Quarter – The opposite half of the Moon is illuminated to the First Quarter.
8. Waning Crescent - After the third quarter is the
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Tides generally occur twice every day and are controlled by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun. There are two kinds of tides that are based upon the position of the Earth, Moon and Sun. These are called Spring and Neap tides. Spring tides occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment and are close to when the moon is either new or full. Spring tides are when the tides are either very high or very low. Neap tides occur just after the first or third quarters of the moon phase. Neap tides are when there isn’t much difference in the height of the tides. During every lunar month there are two sets of neap and spring tides that take